Airplane



Aug. 4, 1925. 1,548,676

R. A. GONZALEZ AIRPLANE Filed June 28, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 5 Th very/Z03 Rqj'aeZfZ (ion/z dZe-a may;

Aug. 4, 1925. 1,548,676

' R. A. GONZALEZ AIRPLANE I Filed June 28, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 5" Imam-n21) 2' Maeiflliowzdlea Patented Aug. 4, 1925.

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RAFAEL A. GONZALEZ, OF SAN JUAN, POE-T RICO.

AIRPLANE.

Application filed June 28, 1923.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RAFAEL A. GONZALEZ, a citizen of the United States, and resident of San Juan, in the district of San Juan, island of Porto Rico, have invented an lin provement in Airplanes, of which the ,following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to improvements in airplanes, and aims to provide novel and improved means whereby flight is attained through the medium of flapping wings or planes.

The invention will best be understood from a description of a specific useful embodiment thereof, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, whe 1ein- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the complete assembly;

Fig. 2, a top plan view in which one of the wings is temporarily removed and the outer end of the remaining wing is cut away;

Fig. 3, a front elevation in whichone of the wings is partly cut away and indicating in dotted lines the limit of downward movement of the reciprocating member and wing controls;

Fig. 4, a vertical longitudinal section on a center line of the power mechanism looking in a forward direction, the wing controls, axle and power frame being partly cut Fig. 5, a similar view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

g. a p ew of the parts shown in Fig. 5;

Figs. 7 and 8, side and front end views respectively of the detent for holding the sliding rack pinions in disengaged position;

Figs. 9 and 10, top and side views respectively of the means for movably attaching the wings to the frame, and Fig. 11, a sectional side view through the axle on the line 11l1 of Fig. l, showing the mechanism employed for detachably connetting th axle with the driving pulley.

Referring to the drawings of the particular embodiment of my invention selected for illustration herein, and particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the frame work is of open structure designed to combine strength with lightness and to possess the proper rigidity Serial No. 648,229.

or flexibility where the one or the other of th se qualities is needed.

Landing wheels 1, 2, on which the entire frame work is mounted, are preferably arranged one in front of the other after the manner of the ordinary bicycle and may be of any approved construction adapted to the purpose. Each of these wheels supports at its center two upright rearwardly inclined studs 8, 3, 4:, 4 constructed preferably of aluminum tubing and secured in fixed rela tion at their lower ends on the corresponding side of the wheels by cross struts 5, 5, 6, 6, which support at their inner ends an axle bearing 7.

The studs 8, 4 support between their upper extremities and also at a point intermediate their lengths two horizontally disposed longrons 9, extending rearward in converging relationship and held in fixed position by a post 12 to which a steering rudder 11 is secured, and also by a'strut 13 arranged at an intermediate point.

A separate strut 1-1 of suitable material, such as aluminum, connecting the forward studs 3, 3 from a point intermediate the two front extremities of the longrons 9, 10 with the lower longron at a point intermediate the studs 3, 4:, reinforces the frame at this point, while suitable stays 15, 16, 17, are secured to opposite angles in the frame formed by the junction of the struts with the studs forwardly, and of the longrons and struts rearwardly for the like purpose.

Movably secured to the frame forwardly and hinged to the upper longron 10, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, over the center of gravity, are two oppositely arranged wings or air planes 18. Each of these wings has a frame 19 of open structure formed of wood or metal overlaid with oiled silk or other suitable air-proof material 20. The rudder 11 also has a frame 21 of open structure, preferably constructed of light wood or metal and covered with similar air-proof material 22, being pivotally attached in a vertical position to the post 12.

An elevator or tail 23, arranged in a horizontal plane below the rudder 11 and secured in fixed position on the rear end of the frame, has a suitable wood or metal frame 24 forming an open wedge-shaped structure overlaid with air-proof material 25, such as the covering for the wings and rudder, the outer ends or corners of the tail threaded being guyed to the frame by stays 26, 26 one on each side of the rear frame extension, secured at their inner ends to any convenient point on the frame, such as the point of intersection of the lon ron 9 and stud l.

Adjustably mountedon the lower longron S) at a point forward of the rear studs l is a seat 27 for the operator, being so positioned that the operator may control the equilibrium of the machine in flight by the position of his body, as hereinafter referredto. Conveniently arranged forward of this seat are handlebars 28 pivotally mounted on the longeron 9. Below the handle bars are provided pedals 29, 29. mounted upon an axle 30 mounted to rotate in the bearing 7 above referred to.

The rudder 11 may be controlled .by'any suitable means, from the operators seat as, for example, by control ropes 31, 31, secured at. their rear ends to opposite faces of the rudder frame and extending forward through suitable eyelets or runners arranged at appropriate points on the frame work of the tail and longron 9, the forward end of each of the control ropesbeing attached-to one side, of the handle bars 28.

I will now describe in detail the parts of the mechanisms provided in-the present embodiment by which the airplane-is propelled over the ground prior to and in attaining flight,.and by which the wings are actuated in sustaining flight.

The axle 30 is slidably fitted in a sleeve and adapted to rotate therewith in the bearings T which are carried at the lower end f o r g d m for ng a f am work for the driving mechanism. and. ar

ranged on opposite sides of the lower lelle e it t e e arm e ng at he at he ppe r mi i to a her eut-al-ye 3T straddling the longron 9 and firmly secured thereto. The axle 3,0 is made somewhat longer than. the sleeve 35 in whichit is mounted and is free to be moved lengthwise therein whenever it necessary to shift its positionwith respect to the driving pulley-38 or the driving gear mounted centriilly thereon and adapted as hereafter explained to move therewith in the alternative. The 'sleeve 35 though free to, revolve ith he e hel a ainst e d play y terminal nuts 4-0, 40, carried on exterior aortionsand adapted to. engage. the bearings 1 The propulsion of the machine on. the ground surface is accoinnlished by means of the rotation of the shaftE O coactingwith the pulley 88., which in turn drives the rear wheel 2 through the medium'of an endless belt 4:1 ca are P riphery f th Pul y a d also a separate fixed pulley 42 of reduced diameter carriedon the hub of the wheel 2. Thepnlley 38 may be detachably connected wi h t e a e 30 by any ta l ans. so

pulley-is deemed sutlicient tosinitiate flight the movement of the axle may be thereupon transferred from the. pulley to the driving gear 39 which then assumes the burden of locomotion in the air. The means herein shown for connecting the shaft 30 with the pulley or, in the alternative, with the driving g ar comprises a pair of studs 43 arranged in alignment and seated in suitable tapped recesses provided at opposite points in the circumference of the shaft, the exposed portion of each stud (see Figs. 4;, '7 and 8) being projected through a longitudinally arranged slot e l-in the wallet the sleeve 35 and extended freely into similar registering slots 45, 46 provided at opposite points in the walls of the bore of both the pulley SS and gear wheel 39., Thusthe axle 30 through the medium of the peda1s29may be shiftedat will lengthwise to the studs 43 to enter the one or the other ofthe slots 45, 4-6 provided on opposite sides of the axle.

The rotation of the gearwheeli3,9 actuates in the opposite direction a spur gear 4!! permanently in mesh therewith. and keyed to a shaft 48 journaled at opposite ends in hearing plates 49-, 49 fixed to the inner walls of the yoke arms 36.

Mounted to slide on the shaft 4 8 on opp si des of e DI- 1 ar s p ra pinions 5,0, SO held against; rotation on the shaft by keys 51, 51, seated in the shaft. These pinions 50 are normally arranged in mesh with separate parallel. racks 52, 52 fixed in upright position on opposite sides of a reciprocating carrierfr-ame 5310f rectangular formation which is supported trally between theyoke'arms 36, 3,6. This carrier frame comprises side members 54, 5,4- and integral end members 55,. 55 at the top and bottom, the side members lacing slotted the greater portion of their lengths to. receive the proiectingends of the axleBO and shaft 48, and providing a worhingguide for the former.

Assuming the carrier frame 53 to: be in the lowered position in which the racks 52 will then be engaged at their upper ends by the pinions 5,0, the revolution of the axle 30 in a. forward direction when engaging the gearwheel 39. will rotate thev axle-.48, through the medium of the spur gear 47 in the reverse direction causing the carrier frame supporting the racks to move upward drawing with it the pull rods 56,, 5.6, (Fig, 4) pivoted at their lower ends to. suitable brack ets 5.7, 57, carried on opposite sides of the carrier frame at its lower end, whichisextended below the elevation of. the axle 310. These pull rods 56 extend upward in divergent relation toward the outer ends of the-wings 18,.each pull rod being pivotally connected at its upper end to a pair of stationary radial braces 58 secured at their opposite ends to points on the frame worr 19 and suitably anchored thereto by a series of stay wires 59, The upward movement of the carrier frame, induced by the pinions 50 in mesh with the racks 52, occurs only as the wings are spread from the closed position. The meshing of the pinions with the racks is insured by means of a pair of guides 60, 60 secured at their upper extremities laterally to each of the outer faces of the carrier frame 53 above the racks 52 and extending in offset relation downward and outward over the top edges of the pinions 50, the guides having a curved formation adapted to slidably contact with the pinions when out of mesh with their respective racks and operating in downward movement to force the pinions into the meshing position.

As th carrier frame 53 reaches the posi tion of maximum elevation, illustrated in Fig. 4, the pinions 50 are forced outward along their keys 51 by displacement means herein shown in the form of separate guides 61, of which there are two on each side of the carrier frame, the upper end of each guide being arranged to penetrate between the pinion and the carrier frame. The body of the guide is properly crowned for slidable contact adapted to work the pinion out of mesh with the engaged rack when the wings are in the position of maximum spread and at the same instant into engagement with a retaining pin 62 (see Figs. 4 and 5) seated in the outer face of each bearing plate 49 at an appropriate point for entering one of the spaces between the cogs' of the pinion. The pinion when thus disconnected from the carrier rack is held in stationary position for re-establishing connection with the rack when actuated inward by the guides 60 as above described, a suitable spacing washer 63 being carried on each end of the shaft 48 between the pinion 50 and the bearing plates 49 to provide adequate openings on both sides of the shaft at each end to receive the free ends of the guides 60.

The downward movements of the carrier frame involving sudden and violent depression of the wings succeeding each completed operation of their elevation is accomplished through the medium of a powerful reactive agent, herein illustrated in the form of an elastic rubber cord or cable 64 suitably anchored at both of its ends to fixed points on the frame, as for example at the junction of the strut 14 and stud 3 (see Fig. 1) and extending downward at an angle and passing under the pedal axle 30 on opposite sides of the carrier frame, thence upward and around the top of the carrier frame (see Figs. 4 and 5). A suitable detent 65 is provided on the top of the carrier frame to prevent the bight of the cable from working off the frame, while suitable anti-friction rollers 66, 66 are arranged on the axle sleeve 35 on opposite sides of the carrier frame to serve as bearing surfaces therefor. Separate spacing rollers 67 (see Fig. 5) mounted on studs are exteriorly provided on opposite sides of the carrier frame 53 for engagement with the cable 64 to provide proper clearance from the pinions 50. Undue oscillations or vibrations of the carrier frame are opposed by fixed guards 68, 68 provided at the top of the frame and extending laterally into adjacent relation with the yoke arms 36.

Upon descent to the ground after flight the operator again shifts the axle 30 by exertinglateral pressure on the pedals so as to disengage the pins 43 from the gear wheel 39 and to reengage the pulley 38 in the manner previously described for propelling the driving wheel 2.

The action of the rudder 11 is controlled forwardly by the handle bars 28, while the angle of the machine with respect to the earth in the act of ascending or descending is regulated by the position of the operators body on the seat 27, a slight shifting in his position only being necessary to effect equilibrium of the mass and to control the center of gravity, this arrangement being deemed more practicable than the provision of means for adjustment of the tail plane or elevator 23, involving additional control members therefor.

It will be apparent that my invention is not restricted to the particular embodiment herein shown and that obvious modifications may be made therein without departing from the objects or scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device of the class described, in combination, a frame mounted to move on the ground, a pair of air planes adapted to be flapped, means for supporting an operator, steering means, and driving means for vibrating the air planes in flight all mounted on the frame, said driving means including a reciprocating member, positively acting means for actuating the reciprocating member in one direction to spread the air planes, means for cletachably connecting the reciprocating member with said positively acting means, releasing means and tensional means cooperatively associated with the reciprocating member for actuating the air planes in the opposite direction independently of said positively acting means.

2. In a device of the class described, in combination, a frame, means for movably supporting the frame on the ground, air planes adapted to be fiapped for propulsion purposes, steering means, means for seating an operator, means enabling the operator to apply force exerted by him to propel the device upon the ground independently of the air planes, and separate means for applying said force in the alternative to actuate the air planesto sustain the device in flight wholly in the air, said last described means including positively acting means for elevating the air planes, an elastic pull member, a reciprocating member cooperatively associated therewith 'for putting the pull member under tension, and releasing means said pull member being free when release to actuate the air planes downward independently of said positively acting means.

3. 111 a device of the class described, in combination, a frame mounted to move on the ground, a pair of movable air planes, means for supporting an operator, steering mam means, and driving means for vibrating the air planes in flight all mounted on the frame, said driving means including a reciprocating member, means movably connecting the air planes with the reciprocating member, and means controlling the movements of the reciprocating member in one direction to elevate the air planes, including a rack carriedby the reciprocating member, a pinion for. detachably engaging the rack, and means controllable by the operator for actuatng the pinion.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

R. A. GONZALEZ. 

